Loose leaf binder



De.15, 1931 L, STE, 1,836,200

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed May l5, 1950 Patented Dec. 15, v1931 limi lssazao l STEEN, GF CHGAGO, LLl'IS, ASSIGNOR {[OV Il. M'. STEIN COMPANY,`OF CHICAGO, ILLN 01S, .A'CORPORATION OE ILLINOIS LOOSE LEAE BXNDER Application mea May 15, i930. semi No. 452,553.

rl`he invention relates 'generally to loose leaf binders of the type in which the leaves or sheets are secured by a plurality oflspaced parallel posts between two pivoted wings on the covers of the bindenthe posts being fixed on onewing and detachably secured to the' other.

rlhe wings of the binder are usually formed from metallic bars pivotally secured to cloth- Y binder, and have interfered with the operation of applying the fabric covering.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a loose leaf binder construction in which the posts may be attached to one ofthe .ving bars after the fabric has been applied, whereby to facilitate the manufacture of the binder. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide in a loose leaf binder.having a post adjacent to the top andvbottomedges'of the iinder, individually operable locking devices whereby the free ends of the two posts may be detachably secured to one of the wings one at a time.

another object of the present invention isV to provide a binder of this character having' a' wing constructionembodying means for securing the post to the wings and arranged to provide smooth outer surfaces on the Wings so as to avoid any irregularity in the outer surface of the wings tending to cause wear on the covers. 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking slide having new and improved gripping means for manually mov ing the shde7 the gripping means having an operative position wherein it may be firmly sped bv an operator and-being movable ively tothe slide to anv out-of-the-way position in the space between the end edges of the leaves and the end edges of the covers wherebyto permit the binder to be stood on edge. i y Y Y ther objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmental perspective view ofa looseleafzbinder embodyingl the invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective View showing the construction of the two Wings of the binder, the various parts of the wing construction and one ofthe posts being separated from each other to illustrate the con# struction of the various parts.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental cross-sectional view taken through one of the posts. Fig. 4 is a similar cross-sectional View takenthrough the two wings and showing the means which limits the longitudinal movement of thelocking slides in one of the wings. K

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the frictional means for retaining the locking slides inv their operative positions.

Fig. Gis a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view of one of the wing members.

lWhile the invention issusceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describein detail'the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to tbespecilic form disclosed, but Vintend to cover all modifications andalternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.V

In the preferred form illustrated, theinvention is embodied in Va binder having a pair of similar fabriobound covers l0 flexibly connected together Corresponding edges by a flexible back il; For the purpose of detachably securing suitablypunched sheets of paper or thelike in the binder, a pair of wings l2 and 13 are pivot-ed, one to 'each of the covers l0 for swinging movement relatively to the covers, and a plurality of posts lllfetend between the two wings, each post having one end fiXedlymount-edrin the wing l2 and -detachablyseoured at its other end to the other wing,` 13. lVith such a construction, the wing' 13 may be detached and moved away from the ends of the posts 14 and suitl purche-:l sheets et pap-er slipped over the projecting 'tgee eids the posts, after nunc-h the paper may be held n1 place ni securing wing 13 to the.

r ends ot the posts. e. the wing 'l2 iown in Figs.

is ned treni s.- nietallie menibc' t. n innated 1 rnmeral 15, th'. ing; being; pivot" l seemed to one of the covers l() by means o* a loop ol: tzibrie i5 whit-h snrroni the ir i f l to the. Cover l order to te i hinder. \\i g f e inty liber rpm-.ned in the are mounted on he i l ed. in the present instance, by forming the member 15 of sheet-ine' bent to a substantially 'L- seetien to provide two spat-ed shaped ere par; llel pia t l? and 1L* supported in fixed relation to l other bj: the Gonne-etineT por- Il whieh rer the 1night :neinlwn l. lns formed is preferably positioned N i Y. brie loop 16 with the o I cent the piv oy the tab ie and 'minded proi o' peg-tion 19 prevents r 5.1.5. by envi vided b'. n` nndne arie.

For .e mounting the posts 'le on the. inem; i 15 a plurality ot T-shaped openings Ztl are termed ithe member 15,

n oit the opening being 'toi-med in the com eetinfg portion 19 of the G Jr. t.

thel transverse portie member 'l5 while li other portion or". the opening extends par wally across the plate li transversely thereot. Vfhen the member has been mounted on the cover by means ot the ".tfzlnie lo. eorrerj-ending' openings ferrie-:ltliroie to perni't the posts l/l o be. inserted into the one ings 2G. Each post le has flat head 2l (Figs. 2, 3 and e) al one et its ends arranged so that it may be more.; sidewise. into the trfnisverse section ot the lening Q0 and into a -osition in the :pace b .en the two plates 'fr' and 18, in which ion the post extends thro gli the d 'tion ot tls opening 20 in pe endie ition. to the two plates. 'ein shown. the posts .lil 1,11

lll f1 member 15, a loeliing slide wise into the. space or longitudinal passare between the two plates l "Q .7 ont. lo the head prevent- C)l oi the poi-'it to tra ns.'er; te or endw.V t disnlieement ot' the post. .tar shown in F5 i2. t, l 4i. the head 2l et 'tne mieliness les post is ot a tween the two plates permittransverselyspaeefllinger-f (il f 2) formedV on the locking sln'le to ext d Heroin-s of sneh a thickness that the. fiat. lower snrtaee of' the head 21 will be held against the plate 18 to provide a firm moimting tor the post.

ln the present instance, each post 14 is longitudinally extensible by means ot a headed screw 2l (F 1g'. 3) which is threaded into 1 .bly the anges 2G extend throughent the. entire length of the locking slide 22 wlurrebj.v to puort the locking` slide in spaced relat on to the plate 18 and in abutting relntlon to a he plate 1'?. This insures proper posi yionng or" the locking` slide so that when the hea-d 2l held in abutment with the plate 1S. the iingfers 28 wiLL .nva 'iably move oveil the head 21 and into locking position. It also facilitates the ixing of the lookin@l slide in the member 15 since the plate 'lZ' may be struck downwardly after he parts have been embled to forni a boss 127 which interloeks with the slide (F l In the performance et such a lixinzg;` operation the plate 18 is not ...orteil and. thus its .smooth outer surface is retained and uneven wear ot the Cover 10 prevented.

'lhe wing 13 is coi str-noted in a manner ,i tinlly similar to the wing` 12 and has elongated fiat member bent to a subially U-shape to provide spaced parallel f 36 and "7 which are maintained in relation to each other by the connecting' The member 35 is piv- .ted to the other eover 10 by a fabric loop 8S ter pivotal movement about the open side et the U so that it may be moved into and ont et abutting relation with the free headed ends /l-O ot the posts 1e.

To receive the headed ends 40 of the posts, the plate 3G of the member 35 has a pair of transversely extending slots or openings 4l. which in the present ease extend to a point near the edge ot the plate 3G which is fixed to the Connecting portion 38. Vhen the heads fl() o the posts have been moved through the slots 1-1 and into the spa-ee between the two plates 3G and 3? they may be detaehably secured in this relation to the plates by looking means which is n'iovabie lon. tndinally in the space or passage be- Uveen the two plates.

Preferably this means is arranged to permit either post to be locked to the wing- 13 independently of the position of the other post with relation to the wine.

This is accom- Vthe body of the locking slideim engagement i with the Aplate 36. To i limit the longitudinal w plished `by providinga separable lockingslide i142 for each of the posts 14. As shown in Figs. 2 ,and` 3,-.each locking slide .42 has a `pair of spaced longitudinally extendinglingers .42a` 5":(Figf 2).*at one end `arranged tofengage the head 40%011 its: opposite sides and to extend across the slot .41.to`liold the'member securely on the post. Preferably*eachaslide42.has a iilongitudinallyiextending flange' 43 at-feach edge arranged to engagertheplate,37 to hold movimient of the` slide 42, ,alug 44:(Figs. 4 andy-1.5) is struckfimvardly from theV plate'36 and into a longitudinally;extendingfslot 45 formed in theslide so that engagement of the i lug 44 with theendsofthe'slot 45 determines theiamountof endvvise movement of the slide i While engagement of the lug 44`With the sides ofthe slotgprevents the slide from rubbing against the fabric 39 Which extends across Athe open end of the U. bossz46 formed tance bietvveen =tlie centersoftheopenings on the locking slide 42 engages anaperture 47 in the plate 36 when the"loclingslide has been moved towitsvoperative position and i servesto frictionallyretainthe locking slide in this position'.` Y. v u j The operation of locking the Wing'13 to the posts 14 maybe simplifiedfmaterially by `making the openings 4l of the form Ishown rin Fig-2whereinthe opening is enlarged or' v oiigreater Width along Oneside edge of the member 35 and tapers gradually toward the other edge of the member. Thusthe headed Mend 40` of the posts maybe projected readily `through theenlargedportion of the opening 41after 'Which the member 35 maybe moved transversely unt-il the postabuts the narrovv fendr thekopening40. This actiongbrings the memher 35 and the-post `14'into proper rela# .tion tepermit theloclring'slide42 atthat end of the Wing to bemove'd toits lockingposition'.k V

of particular advantagein securing? thev second-i4 post 14 to? the Wmg`13", fsinceiit often .1.h`app'ens that the free:endsofthetposts rare.

tippedsliightlytoward vordavvay from,V one ':fanotlier and Vthef clis'tance=between the heads '40 thereof does-not correspondl-Withjthe dis- 41. then this condition prevails; thel Wing f 13 may-*bepivoted about theaxisjof'the post i.tactv with` the `top` of the other post 14 and move down .overthe post. "The Wing13. may then be moved transvcrselyluntil thepost- 14 abutslthe small endfof the .openingv41dur edges the ppeningy41- Will.l cause relative position.

The ,form ofi :opening` herein `'shovvn is With yvhiclrit has",beenpreviou'sly,V engaged, j Y iviththe inner surface of theyving13'in conf j movementof thepost and/thewing.andvvill"` post for operationpfits locking distance of the edges ofthe cover-to which it is attached so that it Will overlie the entire .length of the sheets which are'containedziin the binder. space is" provided between the ends of the Wing 13 and the bottomand top edges of the cover 10 and the loclring'slide 42 is preferably inadeof such a length that it projects substantially to the edge of the cover l0 when the locking slide is in its operative or locking This projecting portion `of the locking slide is not suiiicient to permit an operator to grasp the locking slide firmly` and means is preferably provided on the projecting end of the slide to provide a firm grip for the same. In the present instance, thismeans comprises a pivoted member in the formV of a ring 48 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) secured to the lockthe cover 10 and is located at an angle of substantially 135 With respectto the body of the locking slide. Thus an operator may grasp the ringivith his fore finger beneath the ring and his thumb on the outer surface of the ring for the' purpose of withdrawing the locking slide to its inoperative position;

. The portion of the ring 43 which projects i beyond the edge ofthe cover 10 provides an louter surface '5l disposed Vat anangle'to the edge of the cover 10 and Whenithe cover 1s i stood on itsedge and slid onto'ashelf, the-an- The tongue 49 is formed Thus av comparatively short Y I gular surface 51 of the ring engagesv the shelf andcams. the ring 48abou`t its'piv'otalaxis the edgeof the cover. r

- and into an out-of-the-Way positionA under '-Thefshoulders 50 prevent the rings 48 from being pivoted f outwardly into `contact With the adjacent cover 10 and thus damage to the cover by theirings is avoided;

j From the, foregoing it Will be apparent that k the `invention provides a` loose leaf binder vvhich may Abe manufactured economically since the metallic anchoring membersV of `the vides afloosele'a'f -binderwhicb mayibeicon- .'ivings may 'bemounted in the binder before i the posts are attached thereto. Itwill also be apparent thati'the Wings are constructed j j j in amanner Which avoids uneven Wear on. the ingwhich movementone of the sloping sideV4 i tween the two plat veniently operated, since the posts may be secured individually to the wing 13 thus avoiding thc necessity for properly positioning both ol the posts prior to the operation ofthe locking means. The operation of the locking means is easily accomplished due to the provision of a convenient pivoted linger piece on the end of each locking slide and the fact that each linger piece has an angularly positioned surface thereon insures proper positioning of the linger piece when the binder is slid into position on a shell.

l claim as my in vention:

l. A loose leal binder comprising a pair of i covers, a back flexibly comiecting said covers,

a pair oi wings one pivotally connected to cach of said covers, each wing comprising an elongated substantially liat men'ibeihaving a longtudinally extending passage tl @rein z opening through the end oli' said member and also having an aperture in one sidelthereot opening into said passage, ay post having an enlarged head insertable into the passage in one ci said members thro gli the side opening in said member, a leciti slide insertable into d last-mentioned passage from the end of said member and engageable with said head to prevent withdrawal of said post from said member. the other end ot said post being adapted to be inserted into the passage inthe other member through the aperture therein. and a locking slide in the passage of said other mcml er operable to detachably secure said post to said other member.

2. A loose leaiE binder comprising a pair of covers, a back flexibly connecting the covers, a pair ot wings one pivotally connected to cach oi' said covers, each ot said wings compr'sing a pair of llatl plates fixed in parallel :mac/ed relation to each other, and one of the plates of each wing having an openingtherein, a post adapted to have its opposite ends positioned in the openings in the two wings, a. locking member inserted into the space bes of one wing to fix said post thereto, means acting between said member and the apcrtured one of said last-mentioned plates to h old said member in its operative position, and locking slide movable longitudinally in the space between the plates of the other wi and engageable with said post to `ietachably secure the other end ol said post to said other win In a wing construction for loose leaf binders, the combination pair oi elongated liat plates secured in parallel spaced relation to ear-h other, one of said plates having a slot formed therein extending transversely from one edge tiereoic toward the other ed ge but terminating short oi' said other edge, a post of a diameter substantially equal to the width of said slot, head on said post or' a greater width than said slot and arranged to be moi-.fed between said plates when said post is moved sidewise into said slot and to engage the inner surface of one of said plates to prevent longitudinal movement of the post, a locking member insertable into the space between said plates, a longitudinally projecting part on one end of said locking member arranged to engage a side edge of said head to prevent sidewise withdrawal of said post from said slot.

4. A loose leaf binder havinga wing construction comprising a substantially llat member having a longitudinally extending passage therein opening through one end of said member and also having an aperture in one side thereof opening into said passage, a post having an enlarged head insertable into said passage through said aperture, and a locking slide insertable into said passage through the end of said member and engageable with said post to retain said post in position on said member and prevent rotation of .said post relatively to said member.

In a wing construct-ion for loose leaf binders, the combination of an elongated substantially flat member having a longitudinally extending passage therein opening through one end of said member, said member also having an aperture in one side thereof, a post having a. head insertable into said passage through said aperture, a locking slide adapted to be inserted into the end of said passage and having lingers thereon arranged to extend past the sides of said post to maintain said post in position on said member, he head of said post having a flattened side edge, and a flange extending longitudinally along one edge of said slide arranged to engage the flattened side of said head to prevent rotation of said post.

6. A wing construction for loose leaf binders comprising a pair of elongated flat plates lixed in spaced parallel relation to each other, a lirst one of said plates having an opening therein, a post having a headed end adapted to project through said opening in said first plate and into contact with the other ol said plates, a locking slide movably mounted between said plates, means to maintain said slide adjacent to said iirst plate and in spaced relation to said other plate, said head being of a thickness less than the space between said slide and said other plate, and means on said slide arranged to engage said head to hold said post against endwise withdrawal from said opening.

7. A wing construction for loose leaf binders comprising a pair of elongated flat plates fixed in spaced parallel relation to cach other, a first one of said plates having an opening therein, a post having a headed end adapted to project through said opening in said first plate and into contact with the other of said plates so that said post is disposed perpendicularly with respect to said plates, a locking slide movably mounted between said plates, means to maintain said slide adjacent to said Vfirst plate and in spaced .relation to said other plate, .said head being of a thickness less than vthe space between said slide and said 'other plate, said slide having means thereon arrangeddto' engage said head' a first one of said plates having.v an opening` therein, a post having a headed end adapted to project through said .opening in said first plate and into Contact with the other of said plates so that said post is disposed perpendicularly with respect to said plates, a locking member mounted between said plates, said member having a flat section with similarly disposed longitudinally extending flanges valong its sides, said flanges being adaptedto engage said other plate to maintain said flat section of said member adjacent to said first plate, the head on said post being of a thickness slightly less than the space between said fiat section and said other plate, `a linger termed at one end of said flat section arranged to engage said head and the side of` said post to hold said post in position relatively to said plates` and means acting between said first plate and said locking mem ber to limit movement of said locking member with relation to said plates. Y

V9. A wing construction for loose leaf binders comprising, in combination, an elongated tom section of said U, a post having an enlarged head adapted to be inserted into said slot by transverse movement of said head through said slot, said head being of'a less thickness than said space, Vand a locking member adapted to be inserted into said space from the end of said member, said locking member also being of less thickness than said space, and the combined thickness of said locking member and said head being substaA 'iallv equal to the thickness of said space, said locking slide having a linger projecting from one end thereof adapted to engage one side of said post to prevent withdrawal of said post from said slot.

l0. A wing construction for loose leaf binderscomprising, in combination, an elongated strip of sheet-metal bent to form an an elongated member of substantially U- shaped cross-section with a longitudinally extending space between the twoy spaced sidesrof the U, said'member having a"T- i shapedV vopening formed therein consisting of a rst portion in theconnectlng section of they U ,and a second portion extending from said first portion partially across one side of said U,a post iaving head adapted to be inserted sidewise into said second portion of said opening to position said head in the space between said sides of the member, and a locking slide insertable into the end of said space vand ha. ing a part thereon adapted tvo-extend across said second portion of said opening to engage said head and` prevent 'sidewise withdrawal of the head from said opening.

11. Ina loose leaf binder having a cover, the combination of a wing construction comprising a sheet of metal bent to form an elongated member of substant-ial-ly U-shaped cross-section having' smooth parallel outer surfaces, a loop of fabric extending around said member and secured to the inner side of said cover to pivot said member to said cover for pivotal movement about the open edgeof said U, said member and said fabric having registering openings therein providing a substantially T-shaped slot, the transverse portion ot said's'lot being positioned along the closed edge of said U and the otherportion of said slot extending transverselyacross a portionof theinner side of said member, a post Y having an enlarged head insertable into said slot to position said post in perpendicular` relation to said member and projecting from the inner side of said member through said other portion of the slot, a locking slide `insertable into the space between the two sides ofsaid U, said slide having longitudinally extending lian-ges along its edges arranged to engage the inner surface of the `outer side of saidU and to maintain said slide insengagementwith the inner side of saidl U, said slide having fingers rat `one 4of its ends arranged to'extend on opposite sides of said post and to engage said head to maintain said post in position on said member, the inner side` of said U being upset into engagement withisaid locking slide to maintain said slide in its operative position.

l2. A locking slide fora loose leaf binder,

said slide comprising an elongated fla-t sec-` together, a. pair ofiwings pivotally mounted Y y one along an edge of each of said covers, a

pair of posts each having one `end fixed on one of said wings so that said posts project.

perpendicularly from said wing, the other one of sai-d wings having a pair of openings in one side thereof 'adapted `to receive the other les 6 Lee-5,200

ends of said posts, said openings being enlarged adjacent to one edge of said .ving and terminating in narrov.T portion short of the other edge of said Wing, and a pair of loelring devices movable longitudinally of said other Wing and operablevto lock said posts one at a time to said other Wing.

14. A loose leaf binder comprising, in combination, a pair of covers, a pair of Wings, one pivotally mounted on each of said covers, a pair of posts each having one end fixed on one of said Wings, means slidable longitudinally on the other of said Wings operable to releasablqvv secure the other ends of said posts to said other Wing, and gripping means pivotally mounted on said slidable locking means for the manual operation thereof.

15. fr loose leaf binder comprising, in Combination7 a pair of covers, a pair of Wings, one pivotally mounted on each of said covers7 a post having one end fixed on one of said "wings, a locking slide mounted on the other of said Wings and slidable longitudinally thereof to releasably secure the other end of Y said nost to said other Wing, one end of said slide being positioned adjacent to one edge of said cover, and means for manually gripping said locking slide comprising a finger piece pivoted on said slide, said linger piece being movable to an inoperative out-of-the- Way position substantially at rightangles to said slide and also being movable to an operative position substantially 450 removed from said out-of-the-Way position, and stop means arranged to determine the operative position of said linger piece.

1G. In a loose leaf binder having flexibly connected covers, a pair of Wings pivotally connected one to each cover along eorrcspending edges thereof, a post having one end fixed in one of said Wings7 and .a locking slide movable longitudinally of the other Wing and operable to detaehably secure the other end of said post to said other wing? in combination With a finger piece mounted pivotally on one end of said slide and movable about its pivot to a position wherein it proj ccts beyond one edge of said cover, said pivotal axis being substanially parallel to said last-men tioned edge of the cover when said cover is in closed position, said linger piece having a surface formed thereon at .an angle to said axis and arranged to act as a cam to move said piece about its pivot when said binder is stood on its end and slid onto a shelf.

17. In a loose leaf binder having a back7 a pair of covers pivoted to said back7 a pair of Wings one pivotally connected to each cover, a post having one end lined to one of said wings, a locking` slide movable longitudinally on said other Wing and operable to detaehably secure the other end of said post to said other Wing, said slide projecting at one end from said Wing, a linger piece pivotally connected to said projecting end of the slide for swing ing movement about an axis perpendicular to the path of movement of said slide, and stop means on said slide engageable with said linger piece to maintain said piece out of contact with the adjacent cover.

18. A loose leaf binder comprising, in com bination, a pair of covers, a pair of Wings, one pivotally mounted on each of said covers, a post having one end i'iXed on one of said wings, a locking slide movable longitudinally on the other of said Wings operable to releasably secure the other end of said post to said other Wing, and gripping means comprising a ring pivotally mounted on the end of said locking slide.

In testimony whereof7 I have hereunto alixed my signature.

LOUIS STEIN. 

